It's like one of those movies that lasts 3 hours, and the first 2 could have been eliminated.
I still think Mary isn't all human. But IF I'm wrong, Spieberg missed a great opportunity.
The writing on the piece of metal? Hummmm? Remember WAY back if you ever saw one of the best Twilight Zone features..called "To Serve Man"?
The Aliens gave Earth a book, written in their own language. By the time it was interpreted, it was too late, as most of the population on Earth had taken a trip to their Planet and the translation of the book was that it was a "cookbook". Aliens were cannibals.
So what did the writing say on the metal?
sw
Great thinking! Unfortunately, the writing will probably be translated as one of the little girl's droning homilies: "Sometimes life is like a box of chocolates. But other times, it isn't."